Two Washington Seniors Selected to Attend National Youth Science Camp

High school students to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience in West Virginia Mountains.

OLYMPIA — June 13, 2017 — Washington high school seniors Zoe Dietrich and Son Do will represent the state at the National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) this summer in the West Virginia mountains.

Dietrich, of Sehome High School in Bellingham, and Do, of Kentwood Senior High School in Covington, were selected as our state’s delegates by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Dietrich is working on a research project at Western Washington University investigating Organic Vapor-Liquid-Solid Deposition. She also leads her school’s 250-student Science Olympiad Club, of which she has increased participation by 150 percent. Dietrich also maintains a 4.0 GPA while taking many Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Do is an active and passionate member of his school’s Robotics Club, where he designed a robot to use sensors and lasers to detect the reflection of light in order to navigate through a course.

Do has received a number of awards including the AP Honors with Distinction and National Merit Commended Awards. He has also served as an associated student body (ASB) class officer and president of the Math Club for the past two years.

Established in 1963 as a part of West Virginia’s Centennial Celebration, the NYSC is an annual summer forum. Two delegates from each state exchange ideas with leading scientists and other professionals from academic and corporate worlds.

Washington delegates who attend the NYSC will be challenged to explore new areas in the biological and physical sciences, art, and music with resident staff members. Delegates also present seminars covering their own areas of research and interest.

More about NYSC
The National Youth Science Camp’s academic program is complemented by a
recreation program, which leverages the camp’s location in the Monongahela
National Forest. The camp’s outdoor program offers backpacking, caving, rock
climbing, mountain biking, and kayaking. The National Youth Science Foundation,
based in Charleston, West Virginia, covers all expenses, including travel.

About OSPI
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State School Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI works with the state’s 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and improve student achievement on behalf of more than one million public school students.

OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at (360) 725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200.